Dental buddy container

ABSTRACT

Various examples are provided for containers. In one embodiment, a container includes an inner void extending along an axial length of the container. The inner void includes a closed end adjacent to a first end of the container and an open end at a second end of the container. The container also includes an outer void extending along the axial length of the container. The outer void encircles at least a portion of the inner void along the axial length of the container. The outer void includes a closed end encircling the inner void adjacent to the open end of the inner void and an open end at the first end of the container. An outer wall of the outer void includes a transition to a diameter of an opening at the open end of the outer void and that is adjacent to the closed end of the inner void.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. provisionalapplication entitled “DENTAL BUDDY” having Ser. No. 61/669,408, filedJul. 9, 2012, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Many containers are used for packaging of items such as food, liquids,and other products and consumables. Containers can be used for storage,transport and sale of such items. In many cases, the containers areconfigured to display of the item within the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood withreference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings arenot necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearlyillustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in thedrawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views.

FIGS. 1A-1C are cross-sectional views of examples of a container inaccordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 2A-2C are cross-sectional views of examples of configurations ofthe bottom of a container of FIG. 1 in accordance with variousembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3A and 3B include an end view and a cross-sectional view ofexamples of a cap for the bottom opening of a container of FIG. 1 inaccordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed herein are various embodiments related to dental buddycontainers. Reference will now be made in detail to the description ofthe embodiments as illustrated in the drawings, wherein like referencenumbers indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Beginning with FIG. 1A, shown is a cross-sectional view of an example ofa container 100. The container 100 includes an inner void 103 surroundedby an outer void 106. The inner void 103 and outer void 106 extend alongan axial length of the container 100. As illustrated in the axialcross-section drawing A-A of FIG. 1A, the outer void 106 encircles theinner void 103. An inner wall 109 defines an outer dimension and/ordiameter of the inner void 103 and an inner dimension and/or diameter ofthe outer void 106. An outer wall 112 defines an outer dimension and/ordiameter of the outer void 106. In some embodiments, the outer wall alsodefines an outer dimension and/or diameter of the container 100.

In the example of FIG. 1A, the shape of the inner void 103 and outervoid 106 is circular. In other implementations, the shape of the outervoid 106 may be different than the inner void 106. For example, theshape of the outer void 106 may be square, rectangular, hexagonal,octagonal, oval, or other geometric shape. Examples are illustrated inFIG. 1B. In some implementations, the shape of the inner void 103 maymatch the non-circular shape of the outer void 106. For example, theshape of the inner void 103 and outer void 106 may both be square,rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal, oval, or other geometric shape.

Referring back to FIG. 1A, the inner void 103 extends from an open endto a closed end along the axial length of the container 100 with accessto the inner void 103 provided at the open end by an opening 115 locatedat a first end of the axial length (e.g., the bottom) of the container100. The outer void 106 also extends from an open end to a closed endalong the axial length of the container 100 and encircles at least aportion of the axial length of the inner void 103. In someimplementations, the outer void 106 encircles the entire axial length ofthe inner void 103. Access to the outer void 106 is provided at the openend by an opening 118 located at a second end of the axial length (e.g.,the top) of the container 100.

The outer void 106 is configured to store liquids that surround theinner void 103. The thickness 121 of the outer void 106 can be designedso that items located within the inner void 103 are visible through theliquid stored in the outer void 106. For example, mouthwash may bestored in the outer void 106 and a toothbrush and toothpaste may bestored in the inner void 103. In other embodiments, toys or curios maybe stored within the inner void 103 while a drink or other liquid is inthe outer void 106. The thickness 121 of the outer void 106 can allowthe toothbrush and toothpaste to be visible through the mouthwash. Thethickness 121 of the outer void 106 may be, e.g., 0.125, 0.25, 0.375, or0.5 of an inch or other dimension as can be understood. In some cases,the outer void 106 may be used to store other small materials such as,e.g., beads, seasonings, or other fine grain materials. The volume ofthe outer void 106 may be, e.g., 1.5, 3, or 6 fluid ounces. Otherstandard or non-standard volumes may also be used as can be understood.

The opening 118 for access to the outer void 106 can be circular with adimension and/or diameter that is smaller than the outer dimensionand/or diameter of the outer void 106. If the outer void 106 has anon-circular geometric shape as illustrated in FIG. 1B, the opening 118can have a dimension and/or diameter that is less than the smallestouter dimension and/or diameter 124 a of the non-circular geometricshape. In many cases, the dimension and/or diameter of the opening 118is less than the outer dimension and/or diameter of the inner void 103and the inner dimension and/or diameter of the outer void 106 as shownin FIG. 1A. The outer wall 112 of the container 100 is curved 127 abetween the outer dimension and/or diameter of the outer void 106 andthe dimension and/or diameter of the opening 118. In some embodiments,the outer wall 112 of the container is angled or tapered 127 b asillustrated in FIG. 1C. The curved or tapered transition 127 between theouter dimension and/or diameter of the outer void 106 and the dimensionand/or diameter of the opening 118 extends across the closed end of theinner void 103 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

When the outer void 106 is filled with liquid to a level 130 above theclosed end of the inner void 103, the distortion produced by the liquidand the curved or tapered transition 127 obscures the closed end of theinner void 103 from an observer's view. In this way, the container 100appears to be completely filled with the liquid to the observer. Whenitems are placed within the inner void 103, the illusion that the itemsare submerged in the liquid is provided to the observer. In this way,the items remain separate from the liquid while appearing to be floatingin the liquid.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the opening 118 to the outer void 106 can be sealedby a cover 133 that is detachably attached to the outer wall 112 of thecontainer 100. For example, the cover 133 may be a flip-top cap that maybe screwed onto the container 100. An outer lid 136 may be flipped opento allow the liquid in the outer void 106 to be squeezed out through anopening 139 in an inner lid 142. In other implementations, the cover 133may be a screw-on or snap-on lid or cap that may be detachably attachedto the section of the outer wall 112 defining the opening 118 of thecontainer 100 to seal the outer void 106. The cover 133 may be securedto the container 100 by screw threads, a snap-on lip, or otherappropriate fastening means to prevent the liquid from escaping from theouter void 106.

In some embodiments, a splash top 145 that may be used for dispensing anamount of the liquid in the outer void 106. The splash top 145 may besecured to the container 100 by, e.g., a plurality of tabs 148distributed about the edge of the splash top 145. The tabs 148 can bepositioned so that they snap over a lower edge of the cover 133 tosecure the splash top 145 in place. In other embodiments, a lip orshoulder may be provided around the outer wall 112 of the container 100.The lip or shoulder may be located in the curved or tapered transition127 of the outer wall 112 and engages with an edge 151 of the splash top145 to hold it in position.

As shown in the example of FIG. 1A, the opening 115 to the inner void103 has a dimension and/or diameter that is the same as the outerdimension and/or diameter of the inner void 103. In some embodiments,the inner wall 109 can extend beyond the closed end of the outer void106 (as shown in FIG. 1A) to define the opening 115 and allow for acover 154 to be secured over the opening 115. If the inner void 103 hasa non-circular geometric shape, the opening 115 may have a dimensionand/or diameter that is between the smallest outer dimension and/ordiameter 124 a and the largest outer dimension and/or diameter 124 b ofthe non-circular geometric shape as illustrated in FIG. 1B. The outerdimension and/or diameter of the cover 154 may be less than (solidline), equal to (dashed line), or greater than (not shown) the dimensionand/or diameter of the outer wall 112. In cases where the outer void 106has a non-circular geometric shape, the shape of the cover 154 may bethe same as the outer void 106. When the cover 154 is secured over theopening 115 of the inner void 103, the shape of the cover 154 maysubstantially align with the shape of the outer void 106.

The cover 154 may be a screw-on or snap-on lid or cap that may bedetachably attached to the section of inner outer wall 109 defining theopening 118 of the container 100 to seal the inner void 103 as shown inFIG. 1A. As illustrated in the example of FIG. 1A, the cover 154 may beconfigured to align with a curved surface at the closed end of the outervoid 106. Referring to FIGS. 2A-2C, examples of other configurations forthe opening 115 to the inner void 103 are depicted. In the example ofFIG. 2A, the inner wall 109 extends beyond the closed end of the outervoid 106 to allow the cover 154 to be secured over the opening 115. Thedimension and/or diameter of the cover 154 may be less than the outerdimension and/or diameter of the outer void 106. In the example of FIG.2B, the closed end of the outer void 106 extends to the bottom of theinner void 103. The outer wall 112 is recessed to allow the cover 154 tobe secured over the opening 115 of the inner void 103 by beingdetachably attached to the outer wall 112 of the container 100. As shownin FIG. 2B, the outer dimension and/or diameter of the cover 154 isaligned with the outer dimension and/or diameter of the outer void 106.In the example of FIG. 2C, the closed end of the outer void 106 alsoextends to the bottom of the inner void 103. In FIG. 2C, the outer wall112 is not recessed and the cover 154 is sized to detachably attached tothe outside of the outer void 106. Which configuration is used maydepend on the size of the container 100 and the desired volume of theouter void 106.

The cover 154 for the opening 115 to the inner void 103 may include aflat surface 157 to allow for the container 100 to rest on the cover154. The surface 157 of the cover 154 in FIG. 1A may be a solid flatsurface. In some embodiments, the cover 154 includes a connection pointfor securing a ring or lanyard to the cover 154. For example, the cover154 may be configured as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. In the example ofFIG. 3A, the surface 157 of the cover 154 is flat with a recess 160 inthe center of the cover 154. A cross-bar 163 allows a ring (e.g., akey-ring) of lanyard to be attached. As seen in the cross-section viewB-B, the recess 160 will extend into the inner void 103 to provideclearance over the cross-bar 163 for attachment of the ring and/orlanyard. In the example of FIG. 3B, the surface 154 is slightly recessedwith a lip 166 provided around the circumference of the cover 154. Thecross-bar extends across the dimension and/or diameter of the cover 154between opposite sides of the lip 166. A recess 160 in the center of thecover 154 allows a ring (e.g., a key-ring) of lanyard to be attached tothe cross-bar 163. As seen in the cross-section view C-C, the recess 160extends into the inner void 103 to provide clearance over the cross-bar163.

The container 100 can be made from a clear or tinted plastic or vinyl toallow items within the inner void 103 to be seen. Dimensions of thecontainer may be varied based upon desired size and application. In oneexample, among others, the outer dimension and/or diameter of thecontainer 100 is about 1.75 inches and the outer dimension and/ordiameter of the inner void 103 is about 1.25 inches. The axial length ofthe container 100 including the splash top 145 may be about 23.2 incheswith the axial length of an inner void 103 being about 18.1 inches andthe level 130 of the liquid at about 19.1 inches. As previouslydiscussed, a liquid level 130 above the closed end of the inner void 103and the curved or tapered transition 127 of the outer wall 112 give anobserver the impression that items stored within the inner void 103 arefloating in the liquid in the outer void 106. The distortion produced bythe liquid and the curved or tapered transition 127 hides the presenceof the closed end of the inner void 103. The cover 154 over the opening115 of the inner void 103 may be removed to access and/or replace itemsstored in the inner void 103 without contact with the liquid in theouter void 106. The cover 133 over the opening 118 of the outer void 106allows the liquid to be dispensed and/or replaced.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of thepresent disclosure are merely possible examples of implementations setforth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure.Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-describedembodiment(s) without departing substantially from the spirit andprinciples of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations areintended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure andprotected by the following claims.

It should be noted that ratios, concentrations, amounts, and othernumerical data may be expressed herein in a range format. It is to beunderstood that such a range format is used for convenience and brevity,and thus, should be interpreted in a flexible manner to include not onlythe numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, butalso to include all the individual numerical values or sub-rangesencompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-rangeis explicitly recited. To illustrate, a concentration range of “about0.1% to about 5%” should be interpreted to include not only theexplicitly recited concentration of about 0.1 wt % to about 5 wt %, butalso include individual concentrations (e.g., 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4%) andthe sub-ranges (e.g., 0.5%, 1.1%, 2.2%, 3.3%, and 4.4%) within theindicated range. The term “about” can include traditional roundingaccording to significant figures of numerical values. In addition, thephrase “about ‘x’ to ‘y’” includes “about ‘x’ to about ‘y’”.

Therefore, at least the following is claimed:
 1. A container,comprising: an inner void extending along an axial length of thecontainer, the inner void comprising a closed end adjacent to a firstend of the container and an open end at a second end of the container;an outer void extending along the axial length of the container, theouter void encircling at least a portion of the inner void along theaxial length of the container, the outer void comprising a closed endencircling the inner void adjacent to the open end of the inner void andan open end at the first end of the container; and an outer walldefining an outer dimension of the outer void, the outer wall includinga transition from the outer dimension of the outer void to a diameter ofan opening at the open end of the outer void, the transition adjacent tothe closed end of the inner void, and the diameter of the opening at theopen end of the outer void is less than the outer dimension of the outervoid.
 2. The container of claim 1, further comprising a liquid disposedwithin the outer void of the container, the liquid covering the closedend of the inner void, where the liquid and the transition adjacent tothe closed end of the inner void obscure the presence of the inner voidto an observer of the container.
 3. The container of claim 2, furthercomprising an item disposed within the inner void, wherein the itemappears to an observer to be in the liquid.
 4. The container of claim 1,wherein the diameter of the opening at the open end of the outer void isless than an outer dimension of the inner void.
 5. The container ofclaim 1, wherein the inner void is a circular void extending along theaxial length of the container.
 6. The container of claim 5, wherein theouter void is a circular void extending along the axial length of thecontainer, where a diameter of the outer void greater than a diameter ofthe inner void.
 7. The container of claim 5, wherein the outer void is anon-circular geometric void extending along the axial length of thecontainer, a smallest outer dimension of the outer void greater than adiameter of the inner void.
 8. The container of claim 1, furthercomprising a cover configured to seal an opening at the open end of theinner void.
 9. The container of claim 8, wherein the cover configured toseal an opening at the open end of the inner void engages at least aportion of an inner wall of the container to seal the opening at theopen end of the inner void.
 10. The container of claim 9, wherein anouter dimension of the cover configured to seal an opening at the openend of the inner void matches an outer dimension of the outer wall ofthe container.
 11. The container of claim 8, wherein the coverconfigured to seal an opening at the open end of the inner voidcomprises a cross-bar and recess for connection of a ring.
 12. Thecontainer of claim 1, wherein the inner void includes an axial lengthand the outer void encircles the inner void along the entire axiallength of the inner void.
 13. The container of claim 12, furthercomprising a cover configured to engage at least a portion of the outerwall of the container to seal an opening at the open end of the innervoid.
 14. The container of claim 13, wherein an outer dimension of thecover matches an outer dimension of the outer wall of the container. 15.The container of claim 1, further comprising a cover configured to sealthe opening at the open end of the outer void.
 16. The container ofclaim 15, wherein the cover configured to seal the opening at the openend of the outer void is a flip-top cap.
 17. The container of claim 15,further comprising a splash top configured to secure to the containerover the cover configured to seal the opening at the open end of theouter void.